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Els Falls to Levet in Scotland

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GLASGOW, Scotland -- Frenchman Thomas Levet fired an 8-under 63 Sunday to come from behind and win the Scottish Open. He finished at 15-under-par 269, which was good for a one-shot win over Michael Campbell at Loch Lomond Golf Club.

'When you see the names on the trophy, it tells you all about it,' said Levet, who picked up his third European Tour victory and first since 2001. 'It's the home of golf. With a course like this, it's something enormous.'

The win was great for Levet but it also netted him another perk. The highest finisher in this event who was not otherwise eligible received a spot in the field next week at the British Open.

Other than not being packed for the trip to Troon, Levet is headed to the season's third major, a tournament he has had some success at recently. He lost in the playoff to Ernie Els in 2002 and is ready to make some more waves.

'Playing the Open is something else,' said Levet. 'You have all of these guys who know what I did two years ago. They still remember it. It's always in the back of my mind.'

Campbell had a look at birdie on the 18th hole but his 18-foot birdie putt broke left just before the hole. He settled for a 1-under 70 for his highest finish of the season.

Els, the 2003 winner, posted a 3-under 68 on Sunday to share third place with David Howell, who carded a 1-under 70. The duo came in at 13-under-par 271.

Gregory Havret and Marcus Fraser shared the lead heading into Sunday's final round and Levet did not make his move until later in the round.

Levet tallied three birdies in his first five holes but dropped a shot at the seventh. Havret and Fraser were still atop the leaderboard but Levet kept sneaking up the board with back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12.

Havret and Fraser both fell with bogeys early on their back nines so Levet, Howell and Campbell were left to determine the winner.

Levet ran home a 10-foot eagle putt at the par-5 13th to get within one of the lead. He rolled in a short birdie putt at the 14th to tie for the lead and Campbell joined him in first when his birdie try fell in the left side of the hole at 12.

Campbell sank a 12-foot birdie putt at No. 13 to take the outright lead at minus-15. Trouble loomed for Campbell when his tee ball at the short par-4 14th landed in water. He narrowly missed a par putt from the back fringe but left with bogey and a share of first place with Levet, who parred three in a row from 15.

Howell dropped shots at 13 and 14 to drop out of contention and Campbell dropped another stroke at 15. His second landed in a greenside bunker and he blasted out to 45 feet. Campbell missed the par putt to fall one behind Levet, who was on 18.

Levet hit a long drive at the closing hole, then knocked a beautiful approach to 3 feet. He tapped in the birdie putt to reach 15 under par, then turned into a spectator to see if anyone could catch him.

Campbell got back to 14 under with a 12-foot birdie putt at the 16th. He missed a long birdie putt at No. 17, but played his approach 18 feet short of the flag at the 18th. His putt broke left at the end and he was relegated to second place.

'I couldn't believe that putt,' said Campbell, referring to the 18th. 'I read it dead straight and it broke a hole right-to-left. That's the way it goes. That's the way the cookie crumbles.'

Now it was up to Fraser, who clawed back into the tournament with a birdie at the 17th. He needed to hole his approach at the 18th and did not come close so Levet walked off with his first win since the 2001 British Masters.

'When you play like this, it's a dream come true,' said Levet. 'Every shot I was trying to do was coming out okay. I knew I was putting good. I had a good sensation on chipping.'

Fraser bogeyed the last for a 2-over 73. He tied for fifth place with Tim Clark (65), Niclas Fasth (67), Peter Lonard (70) and Martin Maritz (65) at 12-under-par 272.

Havret, who came very close to hitting himself with an approach shot from the rough at six, did not get a penalty after the round. He struggled to a 3-over 74 and shared 10th with three-time winner this season Miguel Angel Jimenez (65), Ian Poulter (70) and Lee Westwood (65). The group came in at minus-11.